Imagine ... you’re in Rome. St. Peter’s Square. You walk under Bernini’s colonnade to the Bronze Door of the Apostolic Palace. The Swiss Guard salutes you. You’re ushered into a magnificent reception room.

Then, Pope Francis enters, comes right up to you, looks you in the eye and says, “I need your help.”

How would you answer him?

Well, Pope Francis is asking you. As the priest charged by our Holy Father to lead his special agency aiding the people and churches of the East, I have the privilege and duty of passing on his message to you:

“I need your help.”

Pope Francis needs your help to bring relief to suffering Christians in Syria — to care for helpless orphans in India — to rebuild the churches of Eastern Europe — to train new priests and religious sisters in Ethiopia — to respond to pleas for his charity all over the world.

Pope Francis can’t personally alleviate all this suffering. He can’t personally tend to the needs of all these people. He needs you and me to bring them help and hope.

Put your generous sacrifice in my hands. I guarantee, on behalf of our Holy Father, it will be placed in the grateful hands of those who need it most.